Granular graphical user interface element

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface (GUI) element permits a user to control an application in both a coarse manner and a fine manner. When a cursor is moved to coincide or overlap the displayed GUI element, parameter adjustment is made at a first (coarse) granularity so that rapid changes to the target parameter can be made (e.g., displayed zoom level, image rotation or playback volume). As the cursor is moved away from the displayed GUI element, parameter adjustment is made at a second (fine) granularity so that fine changes to the target parameter can be made. In one embodiment, the further the cursor is moved from the displayed GUI element, the finer the control.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to graphical user interfaces forcomputer systems and, more particularly, to a graphical user interfaceelement providing multiple levels of granularity for applicationcontrol.

In general, a user interface is the means through which a user interactswith a computer system. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) employ windowsand icons in conjunction with a cursor control device. Most cursorcontrol devices include a switch for generating signals to the computersystem to indicate a selection or other user action. The combination ofwindows, icons, and a cursor control device permits a user to operate ina visual “point-and-click” manner. As used herein, the phrase“point-and-click” refers to positioning a cursor on a display so it isover a desired image and activating a switch (e.g., a button, a fingertap or a stylus tap) on the cursor control device. One illustrativegraphical user interface is the Finder™ interface for the Macintosh®family of computer systems. (FINDER is a trademark of, and MACINTOSH isa registered trademark of, Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.)

Equipment and application controls have been simulated for displaythrough a GUI. For example, graphical representations of a volumecontrol knob and a visual zoom slider control are indicative of GUIelements used in today's graphical user interfaces. To adjust theapplication's settings (e.g., the playback volume, visual magnificationor angle of image rotation), the user positions a cursor over thegraphical representation of the knob or slider, activates the cursorcontrol device by clicking and holding the cursor control device'sbutton and drags the cursor in a circular or linear motion to achievethe desired setting (e.g., volume, rotation or zoom level).

While more convenient than a command-line input interface, conventionalGUI elements only permit the user to adjust the desired parameter in alinear fashion. That is, when the user adjusts the GUI element through aspecified range (e.g., 45 degrees rotation or 1 inch of liner motion),conventional GUI elements adjust the associated parameter (e.g., imagerotation or volume) a corresponding specified amount. This can make itdifficult for a user to rapidly change the target parameter through alarge range while also permitting the user to finely adjust theparameter's final or end-value. For example, if a 2 inch slider is usedto control the rotation of a selected image, a 1 inch change in theslider control's position will cause a 180 degree rotation of thedisplayed image. While this permits the user to rapidly adjust theimage's rotation through a wide range, the resolution of the GUI elementcan make it difficult to precisely control the final value.

Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a GUI element that permits auser to rapidly adjust an application's operation in a first (coarse)manner while also permitting the user to adjust the application'soperation is a second (fine) manner.

SUMMARY

A graphical user interface (GUI) element permits a user to control anapplication in both a coarse manner and a fine manner. When a cursor ismoved to coincide or overlap the displayed GUI element, parameteradjustment is made at a first (coarse) granularity so that rapid changesto the target parameter can be made (e.g., displayed zoom level, imagerotation or playback volume). As the cursor is moved away from thedisplayed GUI element, parameter adjustment is made at a second (fine)granularity so that fine changes to the target parameter can be made. Inone embodiment, the further the cursor is from the displayed GUIelement, the finer the control. By way of example, consider the casewhen a cursor is moved through a 45 degree angle: when coincident withthe GUI element, this action can cause a selected image to rotatethrough 45 degrees; when 1 inch away from the GUI element, this actionmay cause selected image to rotate through only 20 degrees; and when 3inches away from the GUI element, this action may cause selected imageto rotate through only 5 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrates, in block diagram form, the operation of agraphical user interface element in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2A-2C illustrates, in block diagram form, the operation of agraphical user interface element in accordance with another embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative GUI element in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative GUI element in accordance with stillanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows, in flowchart form, a method of operation for a GUI elementin accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 shows, in block diagram form, a system architecture for acomputer system that performs the method of FIG. 5 in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in thecontext of the particular examples discussed below, variations of whichwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, theclaims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosedembodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent withthe principles and features disclosed herein.

A graphical user interface element in accordance with the inventionprovides a user with the ability to adjust an operating characteristicof an application (e.g., zoom level, page or list display, imagerotation, image exposure and volume), wherein a given amount of cursormovement causes a specified amount of change when the cursor iscoincident/over the displayed GUI element and a lesser amount of changewhen the cursor is off or away from the GUI element. That is, thegranularity of the change associated with a given cursor movement ismodified as a function of the distance between the cursor and GUIelement. For example, the further the cursor is moved from the displayedGUI element, the less change (e.g., the amount of zoom, movement withina page or list, rotation, exposure or volume change) a given amount ofcursor movement will effect. One benefit of a GUI element in accordancewith the invention is that a single control element can be used torapidly “get close” to the user's desired setting while also permittingthe user to use relatively large cursor movements to effect fine orsmall changes to the target parameter.

Referring to FIG. 1A, in one embodiment GUI element 100 in accordancewith the invention is used to rotate image 105 in graphics window 110.With the cursor positioned over GUI element 100, rotation is effected ata first granularity. Referring to FIG. 1B, with cursor 115 over GUIelement 100, cursor motion about the center of GUI element 100 of aspecified amount (i.e., the difference between cursor position 115 and115′) causes image 105 to be rotated X degrees in steps of, for example,15 degrees, resulting in image 105′.

With the cursor positioned away from GUI element 100, rotation iseffected at a second granularity. Referring to FIG. 1C, with cursor 120located away from GUI element 100, cursor motion about the center of GUIelement 100 of the specified amount (i.e., the same as in FIG. 1B)causes image 105′ to be rotated Y degrees in steps of, for example, 1degree, resulting in image 105″.

With the cursor positioned still further away from GUI element 100,rotation is effected at a third granularity. Referring to FIG. 1D, withcursor 125 further away from GUI element 100 (relative to the cursorposition illustrated in FIG. 1C), cursor motion about the center of GUIelement 100 of the specified amount (i.e., the same as indicated inFIGS. 1B and 1C) causes image 105″ to be rotated Z degrees in steps of,for example, 0.5 degrees, resulting in image 105′″.

It is significant to note that while the amount of cursor motion is thesame in FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D (i.e., rotation about the center of GUIelement 100), the amount of image rotation is less in FIG. 1D than inFIG. 1C and less in FIG. 1C than in FIG. 1B. That is, as the cursor ismoved away from GUI element 100, a given amount of cursor motion effectsa smaller amount of rotation—the granularity of the targeted effect(e.g., image rotation) changes as the cursor is moved away from, ortoward, GUI element 100.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the target image (i.e.image 105, 105′, 105″ and 105′″) was rotated about its center point. Inanother embodiment, however, the image could be rotated about anarbitrary point such as the point identified by the cursor when GUIelement 100 is displayed. Similarly, if there are multiple objects inthe window, each capable of being rotated, the cursor may be placed overthat object the user desires to rotate before displaying GUI element100.

Also in accord with the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, GUIelement 100 includes an indication of the current amount of imagerotation (i.e., 0° in FIG. 1A, A° in FIG. 1B, B° in FIG. 1C and C° inFIG. 1D). This can be useful feedback to the user in that as the amountof rotation approaches the desired value, the user can move the cursorfurther away from GUI element 100 so that finer adjustments may be made.In other embodiments, this information may be displayed through thestatus bar of the target application, as a field displayed at a user orsystem specified location or in any other manner known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, GUI element 100 may be displayedthrough a user action such as, for example, by depressing apredetermined key (e.g., the Option key), a combination of predeterminedkeys (e.g., the Shift and Option keys), a pull-down menu, a pop-up menuor any means known in the art. GUI element 100 may be dismissed insimilar fashion. Also in accordance with the invention, GUI element maybe opaque for easy viewing or translucent so that the object/image“beneath” it may be viewed.

It is further noted that while the discussion above regarding FIGS.1A-1D focus on image rotation operations, GUI elements in accordancewith the invention are equally applicable to all continuously changeableparameters. For example, a GUI element in accordance with the inventionmay be used to provide display zoom control, image exposure control,color adjustment, contrast adjustment, brightness, playback volumecontrol or record volume control. The operational features of a GUIelement in accordance with the invention for each of these parameters isthe same: when the cursor is coincident with the displayed GUI element,the parameter is adjusted at a first (coarse) granularity; as the cursoris moved away from the GUI element, the granularity of cursor movementis increased such that a given motion (e.g., 25° of rotation about theGUI element) results in an ever decreasing magnitude of change in theparameter; and the current value of the parameter is displayed.

A GUI element in accordance with another embodiment of the invention maybe used to control or set non-continuously changeable parameters.Illustrative GUI elements of this type provide the ability to scanthrough a document (e.g., by page, chapter and section) or scrollthrough a list (e.g., by alpha or date order).

Referring to FIG. 2A, in one embodiment a user may scroll through adocument using GUI element 200. When cursor 205 is placed over aspecific page number (e.g., page 3), that page is displayed. In a mannersimilar to that discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D, as cursor205 is moved away from GUI element 200, the selected page is scrolled upand down (or side to side) if it is not wholly visible in theapplication's window. Further, as cursor 205 is moved further away fromGUI element 200, the slower the displayed page is scrolled.

Referring to FIG. 2B, in the case where a document has more pages thatGUI element 210 can individually display, each section of GUI element210 may be associated with a specified page range (e.g., pages 21through 30). In embodiments of this type, when cursor 215 is over aspecified section, the first page of that section is displayed (e.g.,page 21). Referring to FIG. 2C, as cursor 215 is moved away from GUIelement 210 (e.g., to cursor 215′), individual pages within thespecified range are displayed. In a manner similar to that discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D, as cursor 215 is moved away from androtated about GUI element 200, movement from page to page (or within asingle page) becomes slower and slower.

In one embodiment, when the cursor does not overlap GUI element 200(205), scroll operations are limited to the displayed page (or pagerange). In another embodiment, as the cursor is rotated about GUIelement 200 scroll operations continue such that page to page(page-range to page-range) scrolling occurs. Other features such as howto display and dismiss GUI elements 200 and 210 and their visiblecharacteristics (e.g., its translucency) may be controlled as discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D.

In other embodiments, a GUI element in accordance with the invention maybe partitioned not by page number as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, but by someother sorting category such as, for example, by alpha order, date order,file size, etc.

Referring to FIG. 3, illustrative GUI element 300 is partitioned into 26sections—each section associated with a specific alpha character. GUIelement 300 is particularly useful when scrolling through a alpha-sortedlist. In embodiments of this nature, when a cursor is placed over GUIelement 300 (e.g., over the character F), the particular portion of thelist whose sort parameter begins with the character corresponding to, or“beneath,” the cursor is displayed. As the cursor is moved away from GUIelement 300 and rotated about its center, the underlying list isscrolled. The further the cursor is from GUI element 300, the slower thescroll operation occurs. In this manner, the user may quickly jumpthrough the underlying list (by moving the cursor over variouscharacters displayed by GUI element 300), and slowly scroll through thatportion of the list they are most interested in. In another embodiment,groups of letters may be combined into a single section of the GUIelement. For example, if the GUI element is too small to be partitionedinto 26 sections, but can be partitioned into 13 sections, each sectioncould be assigned a two character range such as A-B, C-D, etc. In someembodiments, when the cursor does not overlap GUI element 300, scrolloperations are limited to the displayed range (i.e., to only those listelements whose sort parameter begins with F). In other embodiments, asthe cursor is moved away from and rotated about GUI element 300, scrolloperations continue such that the list is continuously scrolled (i.e.,from list elements whose sort parameter begins with F to list elementswhose sort parameter begins with G, . . . ). Other features such as howto display and dismiss GUI element 300) and its visible characteristics(e.g., its translucency) may be controlled as discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 1A-1D.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the principles setforth here are equally applicable to a GUI element that scrolls througha list sorted in accordance with, for example, date or size. In theseembodiments, a GUI element in accordance with the invention may usesections having the appropriate category or label (e.g., last week, thisweek, next week, this year, last year, less than 1 Megabyte, between 1and 2 megabytes, etc.)

In still another embodiment, a GUI element in accordance with theinvention may be used to scroll through a list of items that are noteasily ordered or for which there are to many categories to identify onthe GUI element itself. One example of this may be for date orderedlists or for images sorted in accordance with their size. Lists of thisnature can be extremely large and, as a result, include to many elementsto be easily displayed in categories that can be displayed on the GUIelement. Referring to FIG. 4, in these cases GUI element 400 may beused. As with a GUI element for controlling a continuously changeableparameter (see discussion above), categories or parameter ranges are notdisplayed. Only the current item (e.g., item X) and, optionally, thetotal number of items (e.g., Y) are displayed. As in other describedembodiments, when a cursor overlaps GUI element 400 the list may bescrolled through at one granularity (e.g., for each 10° of rotationabout GUI element 400's center, a screen-full of items are displayed).As the cursor is moved away from, and rotated about the center of GUIelement 400, the granularity increases. For example, when the cursor is1 inch away from GUI element 400 each 10° of rotation about GUI element400's center could cause 10 elements to be scrolled. And when the cursoris 3 inch away from GUI element 400 each 10° of rotation about GUIelement 400's center could cause 2 elements to be scrolled. Otherfeatures such as how to display and dismiss GUI element 400) and itsvisible characteristics (e.g., its translucency) may be controlled asdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D.

Referring to FIG. 5, method of operation 500 for a GUI element inaccordance with the invention may be summarized as follows. When acommand is received to display the GUI element, it is displayed (block505). As noted above, a GUI element in accordance with the invention maybe displayed through activation of a single predetermined key (e.g., theOption key), a combination of predetermined keys (e.g., the Shift andOption keys), a pull-down menu, a pop-up menu or any means known in theart. In addition, a GUI element in accordance with the invention may bea “static” control associated with and automatically displayed by anapplication as it is being invoked (e.g., loaded into operational memoryand executed). In one embodiment, a GUI element in accordance with theinvention is translucent. In another embodiment, a GUI element inaccordance with the invention is opaque.

Once displayed, a check is made to determine if the cursor has moved byat least a predetermined amount such as, for example, one pixel (block510). If the cursor has not moved (the “No” prong of block 510), a checkis made to determine if a command to dismiss the GUI element has beenreceived (block 515). If a “dismiss” command has not been received (the“No” prong of block 515), method 500 continues to look for cursormovement (block 510). If a dismiss command has been received (the “Yes”prong of block 515), the GUI element is dismissed or removed from theuser's display (block 520).

If cursor movement has been detected (the “Yes” prong of block 510), acheck is made to determine if the cursor is over the display regionoccupied by the GUI element (block 525). If the cursor is positionedover the GUI element (the “Yes” prong of block 525), the parameter beingcontrolled (e.g., the amount of rotation, zoom, volume change, displaybrightness or the movement within a document or list) is adjusted basedon the cursor's position with respect to the GUI element (block 530).For example, if the GUI element displays two or more categories ofdisplay (e.g., page ranges 1-20, 21-40, . . . ) the first element in thecategory over which the cursor is positioned is displayed. If the GUIelement does not display a range (as with, for example, a continuouslyvariable parameter such as the amount of zoom to apply), the parameteris adjusted by a first amount that is dependent upon the amount ofcursor motion that has occurred about the GUI element's center. Methodof operation 500 then continues at block 515 as discussed above.

If the detected cursor movement does not coincide or overlap thedisplayed GUI element (the “No” prong of block 525), the distance to thecursor from the center of the GUI element is determined (block 535) and,based on this and the amount the cursor has moved about the GUIelement's center, the target parameter is adjusted (block 540). Forexample, a clock-wise rotation of the cursor about the GUI element'scenter may increase the target parameters value while acounter-clockwise rotation may decrease it. As described above, as thecursor is moved away from the GUI element, the amount of change appliedto the parameter being controlled (e.g., the value or amount of zoom orthe amount the contents in the underlying window is to be scrolled) isdecreased. The relationship between the amount of this distance and thegranularity of the change applied to the parameter being controlled isentirely up to the programmer—substantially any functional relationshipmay be used. For example, in one embodiment a linear function could beused. In another embodiment an exponential function could be used. Inyet another embodiment, a combination of linear and exponentialfunctions could be used such that a linear function could be used untilthe cursor is a specified distance from the GUI element and, at thatpoint, an exponential function could be applied. Method of operation 500then continues at block 515 as discussed above.

In still another embodiment, a GUI element in accordance with theinvention may be embodied as a “static” control associated with one ormore parameters (e.g., window scroll operations, image rotation anddisplay zoom) for an executing application. Thus, a GUI element inaccordance with the invention may be displayed during program activationand remain on the screen for so long as the program is active. As inprior described embodiments, when a user manipulates a cursor over thedisplayed GUI element, the parameter is changed in accordance with afirst granularity and when the user manipulates the cursor away from thedisplayed GUI element (e.g., rotates the cursor about the GUI element'scenter point), the parameter is changed in accordance with a secondgranularity. As described above, the second granularity may be afunction of both the amount of cursor motion (e.g., rotation about theGUI element's center point) and the distance the cursor is from thedisplayed GUI element.

In a variation of this last embodiment, the GUI element may beselectively displayed or hidden from view by a user in accordance with aspecified command (e.g., a menu selection or command-key operation). Instill another variation, the GUI element may automatically be displayedand hidden depending on the user's selected operation. For example, ifthe user selects an object in a display window and then selects a“rotate” action from the application's command interface (e.g., a menu),the program itself may generate a signal to display a GUI element inaccordance with the invention.

It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that GUIelements in accordance with the invention and their methods of use(e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5) will typically be implemented inlarge part, if not entirely, through software. Such software wouldtypically be organized into one or more program modules for execution bya programmable control device. As used herein, a programmable controldevice may be a single computer processor, a special purpose processor(e.g., a digital signal processor, “DSP”), a plurality of processorscoupled by a communications link or a custom designed state machine.Custom designed state machines, in turn, may be embodied in a hardwaredevice such as an integrated circuit including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”) or field programmablegate array (“FPGAs”). It will further be understood that such softwarecan be stored in a storage device. Storage devices suitable for tangiblyembodying program instructions include, but are not limited to: magneticdisks (fixed, floppy, and removable) and tape; optical media such asCD-ROMs and digital video disks (“DVDs”); and semiconductor memorydevices such as Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (“EPROM”),Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (“EEPROM”),Programmable Gate Arrays and flash devices.

One system within which such GUI element software may execute is the MacOS environment. (MAC OS is a registered trademark of Apple Computer,Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.) Referring to FIG. 6, illustrative systemarchitecture 600 (as provided by the Mac OS X operating system) may bedivided into user level 605, kernel level 610 and hardware level 615.Mediating the interface between user level 605 and kernel level 610 isHuman Interface Device (HID) application program interface (API) module620. Mediating the interface between kernel level 610 and hardware level615 is one or more hardware controllers 625. User-level programs 630(e.g., application-1 and application-N) execute within user level 605and communicate with hardware devices 635 (e.g., device-1 and device-2)through one or more user interface frameworks 640, HID API 620, HIDmanager module 645, one or more device drivers 650 and one or morehardware controllers 625. Illustrative hardware devices include cursorcontrol devices such as a mouse, a track pad and a track ball.

In the Mac OS X environment, user interface frameworks 640 arecollections of APIs that provide specific capabilities. For example, theApplication Kit (AppKit) is a collection of APIs containing all theobjects needed to implement a graphical, event-driven user interface:windows, panels, buttons, menus, scrollers, and text fields. Similarly,Carbon is a collection of C programming interfaces that let a programmerimplement basic application functionality such as the user interface,event handling, file management, and so on. In like manner, Image Kit isa collection of APIs that provide access to built-in image filters forboth video and still images and support for creating custom filters.

In one embodiment, program code to implement a GUI element in accordancewith the invention may be provided through the Image Kit framework. Thisis a logical location when the objects to be manipulated are graphicalobjects (see discussion above regarding FIGS. 1A-1D). In anotherembodiment, program code to implement a GUI element in accordance withthe invention may be incorporated within the Application Kit and/orCarbon frameworks. In yet another embodiment, program code to implementa GUI element in accordance with the invention may be incorporated in auser-level application or HID manager 645.

Finally, it will be recognized that while operation of a GUI element inaccordance with the invention has been described in terms of a mechanismthat increases granularity as a user moves a cursor further away fromthe GUI element, the invention may also be applied in reverse. That is,when the cursor overlaps the GUI element, a fine control may be appliedand as the cursor is moved further from the GUI element, control of thetarget parameter could become progressively more coarse.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A graphical interface method, comprising:displaying a graphical interface element that is associated with aparameter having a value; selecting a granularity of change for theparameter based at least in part on a distance of user interaction fromthe displayed graphical interface element; changing continuously theextent of change reflected by the granularity as the distance of theuser interaction from the displayed graphical interface element changes;and adjusting the value of the parameter in accordance with thegranularity in response to a user interacting with a graphical interfaceand to an extent based on the extent of change reflected by thegranularity and based on an extent to which user interaction relative tothe graphical interface rotates about the displayed graphical interfaceelement.
 2. The graphical interface method of claim 1, wherein theparameter comprises a display parameter.
 3. The graphical interfacemethod of claim 2, wherein the display parameter comprises one of thefollowing display parameters: display zoom, image exposure, imagerotation, color adjustment, contrast, brightness, page number displayand a scroll value.
 4. The graphical interface method of claim 1,wherein the parameter comprises a non-display parameter.
 5. Thegraphical interface method of claim 4, wherein the non-display parametercomprises a volume parameter.
 6. The graphical interface method of claim1, wherein the displayed graphical interface element is opaque.
 7. Thegraphical interface method of claim 1, wherein the displayed graphicalinterface element is translucent.
 8. The graphical interface method ofclaim 1, wherein the displayed graphical interface element is associatedwith an application and is displayed automatically by the applicationwhen the application is executed.
 9. The graphical interface method ofclaim 1, wherein the act of displaying comprises displaying thegraphical interface element in response to a first signal.
 10. Thegraphical interface method of claim 9, wherein the first signalcomprises a combination of one or more specified keyboard key strokes.11. The graphical interface method of claim 9, further comprisingdismissing the displayed graphical interface element in response to asecond signal.
 12. The graphical interface method of claim 11, whereinthe second signal comprises a specified combination of one or morekeyboard key strokes.
 13. A non-transitory program storage device,readable by a programmable control device, comprising instructionsstored on the program storage device for causing the programmablecontrol device to perform a method in accordance with claim
 1. 14. Themethod of Claim 1, wherein changing continuously the extent of changereflected by the granularity as the distance of the user interactionfrom the displayed graphical interface element changes involves reducingcontinuously the extent of change reflected by the granularity as thedistance of the user interaction from the displayed graphical interfaceelement increases.
 15. A method to adjust the display of an application,comprising: receiving a first signal; displaying a user interfaceelement in response to the first signal; selecting a first granularityfor a display characteristic of an application when a cursor isdetermined to overlap the displayed user interface element, the firstgranularity specifying a first granularity of change for the displaycharacteristic; selecting a second granularity for the displaycharacteristic of the application when the cursor is determined to notoverlap the displayed user interface element, the second granularitybeing different from the first granularity and specifying a secondgranularity of change for the display characteristic; adjusting thedisplay characteristic of the application at the first granularity inresponse to a user manipulating the cursor in a display region that isdetermined to overlap the displayed user interface element; andadjusting the display characteristic of the application at the secondgranularity in response to the user manipulating the cursor in a displayregion that is determined to not overlap the displayed user interfaceelement; wherein the act of adjusting the display characteristic of theapplication at the second granularity comprises adjusting the displaycharacteristic based at least in part on the second granularity and howmuch the cursor is rotated about the displayed user interface element;wherein the second granularity becomes continuously finer with respectto the first granularity the further away from the displayed userinterface element the cursor is moved.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the first signal comprises a combination of one or morespecified keyboard key strokes.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein thefirst signal comprises a combination of a mouse activation and aspecified combination of one or more specified keyboard key strokes. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface element istranslucent.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first granularityis coarse and the second granularity is fine relative to the firstgranularity.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the displaycharacteristic comprises a page, the first granularity comprisesmovement between pages and the second granularity comprises movementwithin a displayed page.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the displaycharacteristic comprises an angle of rotation, the first granularitycomprises rotation in a specified step, in degrees, and the secondgranularity comprises rotation in increments less than the specifiedstep.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the display characteristiccomprises scrolling through an ordered list, the first granularitycomprises scrolling across predefined categories and the secondgranularity comprises scrolling within a pre-defined category.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein the pre-defined category comprises analphabetical sort such that the first granularity comprises scrollingbetween successive alphabetical groupings in the ordered list and thesecond granularity comprises scrolling within an alphabetical grouping.24. The method of claim 22, wherein the pre-defined category comprises achronological sort such that the first granularity comprises scrollingacross successive date ranges in the chronologically ordered list andthe second granularity comprises scrolling within a single date range.25. The method of claim 24, wherein the date range comprises one of thefollowing: second, minute, hour, day, week, month, quarter and year. 26.The method of claim 15, wherein the act of displaying a user interfaceelement comprises displaying a user interface element that identifies afirst granularity.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the firstgranularity comprises a plurality of distinct display regions, eachdisplay region identified by a page number, a range of page numbers, analphabetical character, a range of alphabetical characters, an angle ofrotation quanta, or a specified quanta of exposure.
 28. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the act of displaying a user interface element furthercomprises displaying a user selected display adjustment, wherein theuser selected display adjustment comprises the combination of the firstand second granularity.
 29. The method of claim 15, wherein thedisplayed user interface element comprises a circular region.
 30. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a second signal; andremoving the displayed user interface element in response to the secondsignal.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second signal comprisesa combination of one or more specified keyboard key strokes.
 32. Themethod of claim 30, wherein the second signal comprises a specified oneor more keyboard key strokes and a mouse button activation.
 33. Anon-transitory program storage device, readable by a programmablecontrol device, comprising instructions stored on the program storagedevice for causing the programmable control device to perform a methodin accordance with claim
 15. 34. A system comprising: a processingdevice configured to be communicatively coupled to a cursor controldevice and a display device wherein the processing device is programmedto perform the following acts: display a graphical user interfaceelement that is associated with a parameter having a value; select afirst granularity for the parameter when a cursor is determined to becoincident with the displayed graphical user interface element, thefirst granularity specifying a first granularity of change for theparameter; select a second granularity for the parameter when the cursoris determined not to be coincident with the displayed graphical userinterface element, the second granularity being different from the firstgranularity and specifying a second granularity of change for theparameter; adjust the value of the parameter in accordance with thefirst granularity in response to a user manipulating the cursor in adisplay region determined to be coincident with the displayed graphicaluser interface element; and adjust the value of the parameter inaccordance with the second granularity in response to a usermanipulating the cursor in a display region determined to be notcoincident with the displayed graphical user interface element; whereinthe act of adjusting the value of the parameter comprises adjusting thevalue of the parameter based at least in part on the second granularityand how much the cursor is rotated about the displayed graphical userinterface element; wherein the second granularity becomes continuouslyfiner with respect to the first granularity the further away from thedisplayed user interface element the cursor is moved.
 35. A graphicaluser interface method, comprising: displaying a graphical user interfaceelement that is associated with a parameter having a value; selecting afirst granularity for the parameter when an indication of user action isdetermined to be coincident with the displayed graphical user interfaceelement, the first granularity specifying a first granularity of changefor the parameter; selecting a second granularity for the parameter whenthe indication of user action is determined not to be coincident withthe displayed graphical user interface element, the second granularitybeing different from the first granularity and specifying a secondgranularity of change for the parameter; adjusting the value of theparameter in accordance with the first granularity in response to theindication of user action in a display region determined to becoincident with the displayed graphical user interface element; andadjusting the value of the parameter in accordance with the secondgranularity in response to the indication of user action in a displayregion determined to be not coincident with the displayed graphical userinterface element; wherein the act of adjusting the value of theparameter comprises adjusting the value of the parameter based at leastin part on the second granularity and how much the cursor is rotatedabout the displayed graphical user interface element; wherein the secondgranularity becomes continuously finer with respect to the firstgranularity the further away from the displayed user interface elementthe indication of user action occurs.
 36. The graphical interface methodof claim 35, wherein the displayed graphical interface element isopaque.
 37. The graphical interface method of claim 35, wherein thedisplayed graphical interface element is translucent.
 38. Anon-transitory program storage device, readable by a programmablecontrol device, comprising instructions stored on the program storagedevice for causing the programmable control device to perform a methodin accordance with claim
 35. 39. A system comprising: a processingdevice configured to be communicatively coupled to a display devicewherein the processing device is programmed to perform the followingacts: display a graphical user interface element that is associated witha parameter having a value; select a first granularity for the parameterwhen a user input action is determined to be coincident with thedisplayed graphical user interface element, the first granularityspecifying a first granularity of change for the parameter; select asecond granularity for the parameter when the user input action isdetermined not to be coincident with the displayed graphical userinterface element, the second granularity being different from the firstgranularity and specifying a second granularity of change for theparameter; adjust the value of the parameter in accordance with thefirst granularity in response to the user input action in a displayregion determined to be coincident with the displayed graphical userinterface element; and adjust the value of the parameter in accordancewith the second granularity in response to the user input action in adisplay region determined to be not coincident with the displayedgraphical user interface element; wherein the act of adjusting the valueof the parameter comprises adjusting the value of the parameter inresponse to the second granularity and how much the user input actionrotates about the displayed graphical user interface element; whereinthe second granularity becomes continuously finer with respect to thefirst granularity the further away from the displayed user interfaceelement the user input action occurs.